Connecting to Databases Dynamically in Laravel

In this article, we'll explore how to connect to different databases dynamically in Laravel 5.1 without specifying the database configurations in database.php. Suppose you have a controller responsible for establishing connections with databases based on provided connection details.

Dynamic Database Connection

To create a new database connection dynamically, you can utilize the Config class to set the database configuration at runtime. Typically, Laravel reads these settings from the config/database.php file, but it's possible to modify them later.

The database configurations are stored in database.connections under database in the Laravel configuration. You can override these connections as follows:

Config::set("database.connections.mysql", [
    "host" => "...",
    "database" => "...",
    "username" => "...",
    "password" => "..."
]);

Model Usage

Any Eloquent models that utilize the mysql connection will now use the new database connection settings. To ensure the changes take effect, it's advisable to perform these modifications in a Service Provider, if applicable.

This approach empowers you to connect to various databases dynamically without altering your application's configuration files. It provides flexibility and adaptability in applications where database connections are subject to change or determined dynamically.